Management Tip of the Day: Build a Better Innovation Team

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   TIPS   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile SEPTEMBER 5, 2012 Build a Better Innovation Team No matter how great your idea, your innovation effort will fall apart if the wrong team executes it. Here are three steps for hiring a team that will help you achieve breakthroughs: Focus on skills. Start by asking "What skills do we need?" not "Who do we know?" or "Who is available?" Tailor job descriptions. Don't be hindered by your company's hiring practices. Create custom titles and descriptions for the task at hand. Rethink hierarchy. Put the most important people at the top of the pecking order, regardless of their title or tenure. For example, if you're taking your business digital, put your IT specialists at the top. Today's Management Tip was adapted from "To Innovate, Turn Your Pecking Order Upside Down" by Chris Trimble. Read the full post and join the discussion » Share Today's Tip: FEATURED PRODUCT Indispensable: When Leaders Really Matter HBR Press Book Will your next leader be insignificant — or indispensable? Harvard Business School professor Gautam Mukunda offers an enticingly fresh look at how and when individual leaders really can make a difference. Profiling a mix of historic and modern figures — from Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln to Winston Churchill and Judah Folkman — Indispensable reveals how, when, and where a single individual can save or destroy the organization they lead, and even change the course of history. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS Make a Critical Trade-Off Stop Checking Up on Your Employees Get Clear Direction from a Boss Who Is Vague Recognize Employees Who Step Up When Starting a Company, Get Your Values Right Ease Your Employees Into Change Don't Pursue a Doomed Idea Take Off Your Headphones See the Big Picture Before Making a Decision Win the Pitch All Previous Tips BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR's Must Reads Library Set Guide to Persuasive Presentations Guide to Better Business Writing Guide to Getting the Right Work Done Introducing HBR's Morning Advantage The Harvard Business Review Morning Advantage delivers the latest business ideas from beyond HBR.org directly to your inbox every morning — and it is free! Sign up today >> UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2012 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)